Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-10
A NEW CASTLE HORROR
THE FATAL WORK OF a SENSE
LESS JOKER.
Young Wac Fatally Burned by n
PIayfni cOmpanIOn-DetaiEs OF asse
Terrible Affair.

Smuel Harris an smpioye NJ the Della
ware Iron Works New Castle, was fatally
burned 1'hin-iay morning.
The young man has been working In the
mill for the past two or three months and
was ON the night turn. Toward daylight
this morning, while he was awaiting for
some iron that was being worked 10
undergo process, he fell into doze.
Some Of his playful fellow-workmen see-
ing him mapping lighted some cotton waste
and held 1t before the face OF the sleeper
as is often iokingly done when oneis caught
DOING. A piece OF the waste held before
Harris' face Thursday morning dropped
upon the front Of his shirt, and the latter
being saturated with oil was quickly In
flames.
| fire and In trying to escape from his pre-
| dlcament took to his heels and ran, the
| drauRht created tanning the flames into
| greater fury. With some difficulty he was
| overtaken by his fellow-workmen, and they
succeeded at length In smothering the
flames, but not until they had administered
| fatal injuries.
The hair was entirely burned from his
head and his eyebrows were also consumed.
| His lips were almost roasted to criep and
| the flesh OF his breast and aruis was hter-
ally charred. Drs. stewart and Black were
called In and temporarily administered 70
| the unfortunate mans sufferings.
The dying man talked solearly about the
offair Thursday to the physicians, and
stated that one OF his best friends among
the employees threw the burning cotton
waste upon him. He would not disclose the
nnme OF the man, declaring the act was
done as q Joke and that II resulted other
| wise, was an accident. To reveal the name
he was afraid might lead the man TO
trouble. Harris is the only child OF q widow
lady who is said to be In very comfortable
circumstances and lives In Red Lion.
l frnf dtad ah0ut n
o'clock Thursday afternoon.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal
NEW CASTLE, Feb. 4.-The death Of
Samuel Harris, who was fatally burned
at the Delaware iron-works yesterday, has
cast gloom over the whole community.
He was highly esteemed by all who knew
him. He was sickening sight TO look
upon and his suffering must have been
terrible; he being charred from his hips
to the crown Of his head. One of the
workmen, while passing the place where
the accident occurred, picked up what ne
supposed to be glove, but which on ex'
animation was found to be the skin OF the
unfortunate mans hand from the wis
down. Three of his fellow employees
William Pustle, William Raney and Johr
Foster, were badly burned about ths
nhuub WblO Lying W oAeA5oAoN NN~'
flames.
His brother, sister and afaanoed wer,
telegraphed for and arrived on the
O'Clock, p. M, train. Their grief wa
: heartrending. The body was taken il
charge by Undertaken Clewell.
, There seems to be great many conflict
ing reports as to how the acciden
, occurred, but it was the result of the jok
: of q fellow-workman. He disclosed h
. his brother just before his death the ON
who did it, but begged him not to max
it known. Foster, it is said, is tn
! man who applied the fire and Is almos
overcome with grief over the fatal result
Of his prank.
!, NEW CASTLE, Feb. 7.-The funeral o
s Samuel Harris, who was burned to deatl
at the Delaware iron works last week
took place yesterday from Undertakes
I Oleweil's and was largely attended. Ser
= vices were held in the Bethel III. e
q Church near Chesapeake City. Intermen
a was made in the cemetery adjoining.